Sonny Chiba, Martial Arts Legend and Film Actor, Passes Away
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The "Kill Bill" star died from COVID-19 complications.
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Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo in "Kill Bill" (2003).
Japanese film star Sonny Chiba passes away at the age of 82.
The actor, long-known for his martial arts skills and charismatic screen presence, died in a hospital on the 19th of August after suffering from COVID-19 complications.
With a career spanning five decades, the star wowed the world with his charisma and martial arts skills, starring in more than 100 films, a few produced by Hollywood.
A recipient of a fourth-degree black belt in Karate, the Japanese actor was in multiple “Tokusatsu” shows, i.e. Japanese superhero shows, landing the lead role in “Seven Color Mask,” among other shows.
In 1974, he came into prominence in the US after starring in the hit martial arts film “The Street Fighter” which opened the door for various Hollywood roles.
Famed director Quentin Tarantino was fond of the actor, considering him a “grindhouse” - low-budget mass-appeal cinema - icon.
Tarantino went on to cast him in his film “Kill Bill” (2003) in the role of Hattori Hanzo, a legendary swordsmith aiding the protagonist in her quest for vengeance, cementing him as a cinematic icon in the eyes of many.
The role renewed the public’s interest in the actor as he was cast in the action blockbuster “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift” in 2006.
The global boom in Kung Fu films, driven by Chinese Legend Bruce Lee, gave Chiba a great boost in his career in the ’70s despite his fighting style being described as “dirtier” than that of Lee’s.
Fans of the star mourned him, posting clips and images of his most iconic roles.
RIP to one of the coolest actors in Asian cinema history. A major part of my childhood was watching this incredible hero smash sculls, slice limbs, and save the day. Japan has one extra star in the sky tonight. #SonnyChiba pic.twitter.com/KbOpetxAq2
— Hus (@aTouchOfFilm) August 19, 2021
